Heating Pad Question

[NightLad]

I have a question about the heating pad setup for the tank. I want to get one that will go under the tank, but I also heard that using old newspapers or paper towels is good (adequate). However, if the heating pad is just separated from the snake by a piece of glass and a few pieces of paper, is there any chance of the snake being burned? Are the pads sold for snakes (reptiles in general, I guess) specifically set so they don’t get hot enough to cause burns, even if the snake lies directly over it?

Thanks!

Oh! And if anybody can suggest a good brand of pad to buy, I’ll be grateful. Thanks again.

[Ringo]

I use under tank heat pad (UTH) made by zoo med specifically for reptiles. If you use a UTH then a thermostat is a must. I dont have a thermostat myself but I do use a rheostat and have been having success with it. You just need to have something that can be used to control the heat pad because they can get pretty hot. With the rheostat I usually set it very low and it keeps my warm side a nice 90 degrees F but I also use about 1 inch or so of cypress mulch or aspen. However, when I clean the tank I always put my hand inside to see just how hot the pad is getting and it just feels nice and warm not very hot. So basically you should be ok using a heat pad and I would strongly recommend it because belly heat is very important for proper digestion. Sorry this was such a long reply I just got to typing and cant get my fingers to shut up lol. Hope it helps.

[MelissaFlipski]

Yes, you can get a UTH - but you will need a rheostat or a dimmer. The glass can get very hot. If you put in a deep layer of substrate (e.g. Aspen), then you might be able to go w/out the rheostat/dimmer.

[Sparky1]

Just one thing if you try to run your UTH without a thermostat or a reostat, make sure you have a good digital to get an acurate temp. When i first set up and just had the UTH pluged in even with an inch of substrate i still was seeing temps at 96-97. Which is a lil to warm.

[MelissaFlipski]

Just one thing if you try to run your UTH without a thermostat or a reostat, make sure you have a good digital to get an acurate temp. When i first set up and just had the UTH pluged in even with an inch of substrate i still was seeing temps at 96-97. Which is a lil to warm.

Yes, always have digital temps and hydrometer on both sides. We actually have the UTH on the cool side b/c it was getting cold over there. And we have 2" of shredded Aspen.

[NightLad]

Hi everybody,

I got most of my setup today! Here is a picture of the tank. It is 24”X12”X12” and has a slide-out locking screen top. I also bought a Zoo Med 75w basking lamp and a zoo med UTH heat-pad.

Thank you so much for mentioning the Rheostat device! I can see how helpful it will be in maintaining optimal temperature. In addition to the Rheostat, I still need: 2X hides, 1X feeding tongs, a humidity/temp reader and a water dish. I plan to buy these at the upcoming expo so I can better match their size to the snake I get.

(I can buy the humidity/temp reader at Zellers for $10. From the pictures I’ve seen here, a lot of people use the same type I use for my instrument room!)

Question:

I had been planning to use regular brown wrapping paper as ground cover (with a few crumpled up paper towels for more cover) since I hope to get a hatchling. I now plan to put some extra padding over the area with the UTH for protection, but what would be an optimal temperature for a hatchling/juvenile? (I’ve read several opinions on various sites and they tend to vary a bit!)

Thanks again for the help everybody! With any luck by this time next week I’ll be posting a picture of my new BP in his home. *squeals just a little, but in a manly way, if that’s possible*

[NightLad]

Ah, nm about the temp question. I just read cueball's excellent guide to making a suitable display for a baby ball. 95 looks good, after I get the rheostat.